CHARD RUGBY REPORTS FOR SATURDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2007

SOMERSET PREMIER LEAGUE

MIDSOMER NORTON  48PTS    CHARD 5PTS

Chard will put this down to one of those days that most sides have to accept at times
They travelled to one of the clubs where it is always difficult to win but did so without the services of four first choice  forwards and five first choice backs who were all unavailable because of injury, stag weekends and skiing trips. Added to this they arrived to find a pitch totally devoid of grass and in such a state that it was surprising the referee allowed the game to go ahead. Within minutes it was difficult to distinguish one side from the other and several players had to be rescued from the mud!!
Chard were not helped by a picky referee who pulled up the front row for illegal binding in the scrum and the resultant penalties all ended with converted tries for the home side. Chard were doing their best to compete and did well in the lineout but an inexperienced back division were finding it difficult to play in the conditions. The home side dominated for long periods and their experienced players would prove crucial in the conditions .Chard did play a lot better in the second half and flanker Zack managed to get over for an unconverted try.
Chard will just have to put this one down to experience and trust they do not find themselves in a similar position for a long time.

Next Saturday Chard 1st xv are at home to Combe Down and should be able to welcome back several players  in to the squad including  skipper  Jim Wagstaff, and fellow forwards Alan Henley and Mark Parsons. However Ben Stead and James Twigg are long term absentees in the back division and are unlikely to play again this season.

DORSET AND WILTS DIVISION 2 SOUTH

CHARD 2ND XV 23PTS  IVEL BARBARIANS  2ND XV 22PTS

Despite suffering the knock on effects of the selection problems suffered by the first team Chard  were deserved winners of this very robust encounter between local rivals

In the first half Chard went ahead with a try from David Hughes which Stuart Gold converted and then Gold added a penalty goal. Ivel responded well and levelled the scores with two unconverted tries of their own The game was getting quite intense and the referee sinbinned two Chard players  John Wallis and Martin Carnell for foul play and also yellow carded a Barbarians player. He then had no alternative but to red card a visiting player for punching so Ivel had to play the second half  a player short.
Early in the second  half Gold went over for an unconverted try and also added a penalty to put Chard eight points clear but Ivel kept themselves in with a shout when they went over for their third unconverted try
The game was being played close to the edge by both sides but Chard had the player of the game in David Hughes and it was fitting that he went over for the homes side second try when he stormed in after an assist from scum half Danny Crabb. The lack of specialist players had forced  Chard skipper Mike farthing to juggle his squad and at various times in the game Hughes excelled in both forwards and backs.
The game looked well and truly won by Chard but in what appeared to be an awful amount of added time Ivel broke away for a late score to get within a point of their hosts.
A deserved win for the home side especially in view of the  patched up side they fielded

 Next Saturday  the 2nd xv travel to Sherborne  for another league match.

CHARD 3RD XV  0PTS  WIVELISCOMVBE 3RD XV  34PTS

Chard skipper Mike Berry somehow  managed to persuade enough people out of retirement to honour this fixture which had looked in doubt because of the well documented selection problems at  the club  this week.
Wivey were a much stronger outfit on the day and won as well as the score suggests. In all honesty Chard were not at the races but deserve credit for honouring the fixture with a full side and hopefully  the players that returned will continue to play and enjoy everything the club has to offer.

Chard 3rd xv are away at Wellington next week.

3rd team scrum half and  skipper Mike Berry and  forward Rob Gilbert have been selected to play for a Somerset Presidents veteran xv at Bridgwater on Sunday April 8th